As a result, Lomachenko, a fighter known for being able to glide across the ring using his impeccable footwork, was resorted to holding and clinching throughout.

Why?

His legs probably felt like jello, compliments of all those hip zingers.

Moreover, since punching power is generated mostly from the hips, foot movement wasn't the only element of Vasyl's game that may have been impacted.

The sciatic nerve has branches into the hip and buttocks and runs from lower part of the spine down the back of both of your legs to the feet. It forms an 'electrical cable' of sorts to and from the brain.

When that nerve is aggravated, it generally causes pain, weakness or an altered sensation in the legs.

Are hip punches considered low blows?

Yes, but a referee seldom deducts points for hip punches because they are not centrally-targeted. Unlike shots that land on a fighter's groin area, hip punches are not nearly as eye-catching or easily noticed.

Also, fighters more easily absorb hip shots than hard punches to the groin so you're not as likely to see a fighter crumble to the canvas from being hit on the hip.

However, over the course of several rounds, those shots can be dehibilitating.

I was hit really hard in the right hip once during sparring and it hurt like mofo. But the pain wasn't the worst feeling.

I remember this ‘buzzing jolt' that ran from my feet up my legs that felt really, really weird. I called timeout, hopped around the ring for about 10 seconds and resumed sparring soon after.